Breast Cancer Motorcycle Ride Aims to Raise Awareness Across New York

 

On Monday, June 27, 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo will launch the first-ever statewide breast cancer motorcycle ride to raise awareness of the disease across New York State. The ride supports Governor Cuomo’s comprehensive “Get Screened, No Excuses” campaign – the nation’s most aggressive effort to eliminate the barriers that often prevent women from getting screened, such as difficulty scheduling mammograms or burdensome insurance hurdles.
 
Beginning in Kings Park on Long Island, Governor Cuomo, Sandra Lee, and hundreds of participants will ride motorcycles across the state to raise awareness about breast cancer and support families fighting against the disease. Legendary musician Billy Joel will also join the first leg of the ride on June 27. The second and third legs of the ride will take place on Friday, July 8 and Wednesday, July 13.
 
Each stop along the route will be an opportunity to educate New Yorkers about the importance of early detection and diagnosis and help women find resources – such as mammogram locations – near them. On Monday, the Governor will also sign legislation to expand screening hours at hospitals and eliminate insurance hurdles for mammograms and other diagnostic imaging procedures.
 
As part of the 2016 Breast Cancer Ride, Harley Davidson is donating a custom motorcycle that will be used by Governor Cuomo throughout the ride and then auctioned off by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to raise money to prevent and cure the disease.
 
“Early detection is the best possible treatment for breast cancer, but far too many women face burdensome scheduling and insurance barriers that prevent them from gaining access to the diagnostic services they need any deserve,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York State has put forward the most robust plan in the nation to eliminate those hurdles and ensure that nothing stands in between women and their health and we will continue to build on these efforts. When Sandy was diagnosed, she fortunately caught it early and used her story to spread the word that getting screened can truly make a lifetime of difference. This ride is about spreading awareness and sending that message loud and clear, because when it comes to getting screened for cancer, waiting is simply not worth the risk.”
 
“I’m so grateful to the legislators for passing this bill. Motorcycle rides have always made me feel free — and I am so happy to be hitting the open road in good health,” said Sandra Lee. “I am proud and so inspired by Andrew’s ‘Get Screened, No Excuses’ campaign. And I call upon all governors nationwide to take initiatives in their own states to protect women’s health and to save their lives.”

Stops on First Day of Ride – Monday, June 27 9:30 A.M. – Ride begins in Sunken Meadow Park, Kings Park, NY
 
11:30 A.M. – Arrives in New York City
1:00 P.M. – Departs New York City
2:00 P.M. – Arrives at Bear Mountain State Park (3020 Seven Lakes Dr., Bear Mountain, NY)
3:00 P.M.: Departs Bear Mountain State Park
4:00 P.M.: Arrives at DEC Regional Headquarters (21 South Putt Corners Rd., New Paltz NY)
5:00 P.M.: Departs DEC Regional Headquarters

“Get Screened, No Excuses” Campaign

Building upon $91 million in investments outlined in the Governor’s State of the State Address to increase awareness and screening for breast cancer, including a public awareness campaign, community outreach programs, patient navigators, and mobile mammography vans, Governor Cuomo recently announced a legislative agreement to ramp up the fight against the disease: 

Require 210 hospitals and hospital extension clinics to offer extended hours of screening for at least four hours per week to help women who have difficulty scheduling mammograms during the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday. These hours include 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday or Sunday; 

Eliminate annual deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance payments (“cost-sharing”) for all screening mammograms, including those provided to women more frequently than current federal screening guidelines such as annual mammograms for women in their forties; 

Eliminate cost-sharing for diagnostic imaging for breast cancer, including diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs for women at high risk for breast cancer. As a result, women in need of tests other than standard mammograms will not have to pay any additional out-of-pocket expenses for these most common diagnostic tests;

Adds public employees of cities with a population of one million or more, to the population of public employees in New York State who are currently allowed four hours of leave for screening for breast cancer each year. Current state law requires all public employers to provide their employees with four hours of leave each year for breast cancer screening. Now public employees in New York City will receive the same benefit as all other public employees statewide.

More information on New York State Breast Cancer Screening services is available here. 

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo